Test plug for filter assembly

ABSTRACT

A fluid pressure line test plug for use in connection with a filter assembly mounting head which is fixedly mounted in a fluid line and wherein the head has inlet and outlet ports the test plug being formed with fluid passage means permitting direct communication between the inlet and outlet ports of the head member disposed in the fluid pressure line.

United States Paten Brejcha et al. [451 Oct. 10, 1972 [54] TEST PLUG FORFILTER ASSEMBLY [56] References Cited [7 2] Inventors: Robert J.Brejcha, Westchester; UNITED STATES PATENTS William L Corbett,Lincolnshire. 3,292,428 12/1966 Motl ..73/l68 x both of -2,73o,s971/1956 Morse ..73/l68 x [73] Assignee: Everpure, Inc., Oak Brook, Ill.

t Primary Examiner-Reuben Friedman Flledi Mfilch 1971 AssistantExaminer-Frederick F. Calvetti [21] AppL No: 125,756 iAttorney-FrankR.Threnpont [57] ABSTRACT [52] L8. Cl. 168 A r r li e test plug for use inconnection [51] III!- Cl. ..G0lm 19/00 with a filter assembly mountinghead which is fixedly [58] Field of Search ..222/381; 137/544; 141/126,mounted in a fluid line and wherein the head has inlet and outlet portsthe test plug being formed with fluid passage means permitting directcommunication between the inlet and outlet ports of the head memberdisposed in the fluid pressure line.

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures TEST PLUG FOR FILTER ASSEMBLY This inventionrelates to a test plug member to be used in connection with testing afilter assembly mounting head connected in a fluid pressure line.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a test plug fora head memberin a fluid pressure line, the headmember being adapted toreceive therein a filter unit.

A further object is to provide a test plug for the head member todetermine whether the shut-off valve associated with said head member isoperating properly.

Another object of this invention is to provide a test plug which is usedfor determining whether the head member is properly constructed to makea proper seal with a filter unit which is adapted to be brought intosealing engagement with the head member.

A further object is to provide a test plug for the head member in afluid pressure line system to provide fluid communication through thehead member to be able to test the fluid line system beyond the headmember.

- Briefly summarized the invention herein includes a test plug unitforuse in connection with a head member mounted in a fluid pressure line toconduct tests on a fluid pressure system and the head member insertedtherein. Thehead member withwhich the test plug is used is of the typedescribed-in the co-pending application of Jack W. Thomsen for US. Pat.Ser. No. 831,030 filed on June 6, 1969, and assigned to the sameassignee as this application. The test plug member is constructed with aboss member which is insertable into the head member in sealing relationtherewith. The test plug is provided with through passage means which iseffective to establish fluid communication between the inlet and outletports of the head member. The test plug member is adapted to be securedin a sealing relationship with the head member by means of a clampingcollar in a manner as described in the above referred to co-pending U.S.patent application.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevationalview of the head member and test plug;

FIG. 3 is a view partially in section taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1showing a clamping collar and a test plug in the clamped position in theleft hand portion of the Figure and in the unclamped position in theright hand portion of the Figure;

FIG. 4 is an exploded elevation view of the head member and clampingcollar;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 andincluding a fragmentary elevational view of the upper portion of thetest plug;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view partially in section of the test plug;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view in elevation of a modified form ofthe test plug.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The test plug is-used with a head member, generallydesignated 10, which is preferably made of a metal construction. Thehead member 10 includes a first part 11 having an internally threadedinlet port 12 which communicates with a cross-bore 14, the latter beingin coaxial communication with an enlarged bore 15. A valve stem 16 has athreaded portion 16a in threaded engagement with internal threads in thebore 15. The valve stem includes an extension 17 connected to one end ofa manual actuating lever 18, this connection being effected by afastener 19. The valve stem 16 is in sealing engagement with the bore 15by means of an O ring 20. The valve has a frusto-conical portion 16b forsealing engagement with a valve seat 15a. When the actuating lever 18 isin its horizontal or open portion as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, theportion 16b is unseated permitting communication between the inlet port12 and a centrally disposed inlet port defined by bore 22 whichintersects the bore 15. The lead of the thread 16a is such that when thelever 18 is moved to the vertical or shut-off position illustrated inFIG. 4, the valve portion 16b is seated against the surface 15a.

The bore 22 opens into a central recess or bore 24 which defines adownwardly facing shoulder 240. Bore 24 is coaxially disposed withrespect to bore 22. The part 11 includes an outlet port 25 which isinternally threaded at the upper end thereof and which has its lower endopening at the shoulder 24a, thereby being in communication with thebore 24. It will be understood that the inlet port 12 and outlet port 25are adapted for threaded engagement with suitable fittings forconnecting such ports with inlet and outlet conduits or tubesrespectively forming part of associated apparatus. The head member 10may be fixedly mounted by suitable bracket means (not shown).

The head as here shown also includes a second part 26 having a centralbore 27 communicating with frustoconical bore 28. The part 26 includesan integral, and generally cylindrical skirt portion 30. This skirtportion includes integral, identical formations 32 formed on the outsideof the skirt 30 and which are diametrically oppositely disposed in therelation illustrated in FIG. 4. The part 26 may be formed integrallywith the first part 11 or seperately and then attached to part 11 bysuitable fastening means such as screws.

Each formation 32 has an arcuate, generally horizontally disposed camsurface 34, a helical or inclined cam surface 35 and another arcuate,generally horizontally disposed czm surface 36. The cam surface 34 joinswith a vertically extending cam stop surface 37. In like manner the camsurface 36 joins with a vertically extending cam stop surface 38. Thelower edge of the skirt 30 includes a pair of identical, anddiametrically oppositely disposed formations 40 depending from the loweredge of the skirt and each defining an inclined cam surface 40a. Theseformations seperate a pair of generally diametrically oppositelydisposed arcuate lower edge surfaces 41, the latter being disposed in acommon horizontal plane.

A locking ring or clamping collar, generally designated 42, includes asleeve like member 44 having internal, diametrically oppositely disposedformations 45 which are identical and which are arranged for cooperatingwith respective formations 32. Each formation 45 is formed at the upperedge of the collar 42 and includes a generally horizontally disposeddownwardly facing cam surface 46 joining with an inclined or helical camsurface 47. The formation 45 also includes end surfaces or stops 48 and49 which are generally vertically extending.

Arranged intermediate the formations 45 but at the opposite lower edgeof collar 42 are a pair of internal ledge formations 50, the latterbeing identical and arranged such that they are disposed 180 from eachother. Each ledge 50 has an arcuate generally horizontally disposedrecess surface 52 opposite ends of the latter joining with stop surfaces53 and 54.

The clamping collar 42 is rotatably mounted on the part 26 of the headmember cam with the cam surfaces on the formations 32 in respectiveengagement with the cam surfaces on the formations 45. When the collar42 is in the clamping position illustrated in FIG. 2, the cam surfaces34 and 35 are coextensively engaged with respective cam surfaces 46 and47, and with stop surfaces 37 and 48 in abutting engagement. Rotation ofthe collar 42 in a clockwise direction (FIG. 1) causes seperation of thecam surfaces 35 and 47 and the stop surfaces 37 and 48. This rotationalso causes sliding engagement between the cam surfaces 34 and 46 untilthe end of the cam surfaces 46 engage the cam surfaces 35 whereupon thecollar 42 will commence moving axially or downwardly to its unclampedposition. The limitation of rotation of the ring 42 in a clockwisedirection to its fully unclamped position is determined by the stops 49on the collar 42 engaging the cam stops 38 on the part 26.

One embodiment of the test plug that can be used in conjunction withhead member 10 is shown in FIG. 6 and is designated generally by thenumeral 58. It may comprise a metal can type structure in the form of agenerally cylindrical vessel 59 to which is attached at the upper andthereof a cap member 60 which may be of metal or plastic construction.

The cap member 60 is of a generally conical shape. As here shown it maybe formed with a rim portion 61 at the base end and a smaller annularboss portion 62 which is disposed coaxially with the rim portion 61 thetwo being interconnected by a web portion 63. The upper end of thevessel 59 may be crimped into place on the rim 61 of the cap member 60.An ring sealing member 64 is disposed on the outer surface of the boss62. A cylindrical recess 65 is formed in the boss 62 the recess beingdefined by the inner wall 66 and the web portion 67.

Suitable means is provided to prevent the cap member 60 from slidingdown into the vessel 59. One manner in which this may be done is byforming a plurality of circumferentially spaced dimples 68 in the upperend of the vessel to form a support for the cap member. Another methodis to bond the outer periphery of the rim portion 61 to the innersurface of the vessel 59. Another method is to provide one or morecolumn supports within the vessel and extending between the bottom ofthe vessel and the lower end of the cap member.

When the test plug 58 is inserted into position in the head member asbest shown in the left hand portion of FIG. 3 the 0 ring 64 is insealing engagement with the bore 24 and the recess 65 is in fluidcommunication with both the inlet and outlet ports 12 and 25respectively. Thus when the valve 18 is opened fluid may flow from theinlet port 12, into bore 22 and into the recess 65 and directly to theoutlet 25.

. 6 An alternate form of construction of the test plug designated 158 isshown in FIG. 7. In this construction there is no web portion 67 formedin the cap member 60 as shown on FIG. 6. The inner wall a defines astraight through cylindrical bore. Thus when the test plug 158 isinserted in place in the bore 24 of the head member incoming fluid mayfill the entire vessel 59 and is not confined to a recess 64.

It will be observed that in this construction the pressure fluid beingwithin the vessel will have a tendency to push the cap member 60 out ofthe vessel 59. This construction thus utilizes the rolled over lip 70 toadvantage to resist the outward movement of the cap member. In thisparticular construction an 0 ring 71 around the rim 61 provides aneffective seal against leakage of pressure fluid. v

The vessel 59 may be constructed in substantially the same manner as thepressure vessel shown in the copending U.S. application referred toabove. In both constructions the vessel 59 includes a pair ofdiametrically oppositely disposed, integral ridge surfaces or formationsas 78. These formations extend outwardly and are adapted to be receivedin respective recesses 52 formed in the ledges 50 for supporting thetest plug unit 58 in the collar 42.

The test plug may be advantageously used in performing a variety oftests on the head member 10 without having to use one or more actualfilter units.

I claim:

1. The combination comprising:

a head member for insertion into a fluid carrying line said head memberbeing adapted to have a filter assembly operatively associatedtherewith;

inlet and outlet ports formed in said head member; means definingcentrally disposed bore means in said head member;

means defining first communicating passage means between said inlet andoutlet ports; a plug member for insertion into said centrally disposedbore means;

means defining second passage means associated with said plug member,said second passage means when said plug member is inserted into saidbore establishing fluid communication between said inlet and outletports of said head member.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said plug member includes an openended vessel, and

a cap member secured in the open end of said vessel, and furtherincludes means associated with said vessel and said cap member forsecurely positioning said cap member in said vessel against the force ofpressure fluid.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said second passage meanscomprises recess means in the upper end of said plug member.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said plug member includes avessel, a cap member mounted in the end of said vessel, central boremeans in said cap member providing a passage into said vessel, saidcentral bore in said cap member being in fluid communication with saidinlet and outlet ports in said head member.

5. The combination of claim 1 including a shut-off valve for shuttingoff line pressure to the inlet port in said head member.

6. The combination of claim 1 including sealing means disposed betweensaid plug member and said bore.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said sealing means comprises ringmeans mounted on said plug member.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said second passage means definesan unrestricted path for fluid communication between the inlet 5 andoutlet ports in said head member.

1. The combination comprising: a head member for insertion into a fluidcarrying line said head member being adapted to have a filter assemblyoperatively associated therewith; inlet and outlet ports formed in saidhead member; means defining centrally disposed bore means in said headmember; means defining first communicating passage means between saidinlet and outlet ports; a plug member for insertion into said centrallydisposed bore means; means defining second passage means associated withsaid plug member, said second passage means when said plug member isinserted into said bore establishing fluid communication between saidinlet and outlet ports of said head member.
 2. The combination of claim1 wherein said plug member includes an open ended vessel, and a capmember secured in the open end of said vessel, and further includesmeans associated with said vessel and said cap member for securelypositioning said cap member in said vessel against the force of pressurefluid.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said second passage meanscomprises recess means in the upper end of said plug member.
 4. Thecombination of claim 1 wherein said plug member includes a vessel, a capmember mounted in the end of said vessel, central bore means in said capmember providing a passage into said vessel, said central bore in saidcap member being in fluid communication with said inlet and outlet portsin said head member.
 5. The combination of claim 1 including a shut-offvalve for shutting off line pressure to the inlet port in said headmember.
 6. The combination of claim 1 including sealing means disposedbetween said plug member and said bore.
 7. The combination of claim 6wherein said sealing means comprises ''''O'''' ring means mounted onsaid plug member.
 8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said secondpassage means defines an unrestricted path for fluid communicationbetween the inlet and outlet ports in said head member.